Abu Dhabi: Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is clearly in the hot seat. While he has to oversee plans of his team’s final preparations, he also has to ensure that the rivalry between his drivers Lews Hamilton and Nico Rosberg doesn’t flare up ahead of the final showdown.
Wolff agreed that atmosphere in the team garage is intense with both drivers hoping to clinch the Championship at the weekend.
“The tension is on I would say, and it is pretty normal. It has come to the last race now, it’s between the two of them. It’s the all-defining, decision-making race and it’s pretty normal,” said Wolff.
“I wouldn’t say that there is more tension than expected in the garage but there is a good spirit. The practice session was a good one for us,” said Wolff, who felt there was no need to give any specific message to his drivers before the race today.
“No. I think at this stage the team doesn’t need to interfere anymore in the relationship between the two. It’s down to them; we need to give them the best car so that they can fight it out on the track. It makes no sense to try to pretend a… schmoosing environment. They are out there to win the world championship. It’s man against man and the tension is there; all in a respectful manner,” added Wolff, who was of the view that whoever wins the title, the team would make sure that things remained calm as they will be continuing with the same drivers next season and it was important to keep the camaraderie going.
“The drivers are valuable members of the team. We are going to continue with them next year and while we’re going to honour and celebrate the World Championship-winning driver, you need to respect that for the other guy it’s going to be a very difficult day in his life. This is why we would like to maintain our role as being fairly neutral in that situation,” said Wolff, whose team has already clinched their first-ever Constructors’ Championship and this weekend will also guarantee a double as the championship race is between his two drivers.
If Hamilton or Rosberg clinch pole position for the final race, Mercedes also become the first engine manufacturer to take pole in every race since 1969.
“I wasn’t so much into statistics before this season, but breaking these kinds of records is a great achievement for the team and makes me really proud,” said Wolff adding: “I remember when I was a child, McLaren with those orange and white cars would dominate everything and now us being in such a position and having equalled those records and beaten some of the records is very satisfying indeed.”
